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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Sport
Jamie Braidwood

Alan Brazil ‘lucky to be alive’ after heart stopped during operation

Alan Brazil returned to air on Thursday but is still a few weeks away from hosting his breakfast show - (TalkSport)

TalkSport host Alan Brazil has revealed he is “lucky to be alive” after his heart stopped during a liver transplant.

The former Scotland and Ipswich striker, 66, revealed last month that he recently underwent a “life-saving operation”.

He returned to air on Thursday morning, confirming he is still on the mend but is “alive and kicking”.

“I am still here. Gradually, every day improving and looking forward to getting back,” Brazil said.

“It is going to be a few more weeks, but hopefully, just two or three and get back.

“There has been loads of sport on that has really kept me going, and it has been a funny few months - it really has.

“There is a lot of rubbish going at the moment with Kenny [Dalglish] and Kevin Keegan, John Barnes [all diagnosed with cancer] - every day you read something different.

“I copped it, but thank God, luckily, the guys at Addenbrooke's Hospital have saved my life.”

Brazil said he underwent the operation just hours after finishing presenting his breakfast show on TalkSport.

“They transplanted my liver. My heart did stop for a bit and it came back on its own,” he said. “I’ll be frank, I’m very, very lucky to be here.”

Brazil made 13 appearances for Scotland and scored 76 goals for Ipswich in a six-year spell at Portman Road between 1977 and 1983, winning the FA Cup in 1978 and Uefa Cup in 1981.

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